Legal
March 29, 2023
Australia Calls to Restrict Kids’ Access to Games Simulating Gambling
Australia is infamous for its losses to gambling. Every month, gamblers lose hundreds of millions of dollars to the activity, while the losses annually are at a billion-dollar scale. Many changes were discussed in different Australian states recently, yet a nationwide overhaul of the gambling sector also represents a possible option for the country to […]
Esports
March 23, 2023
Lawsuit Fails Short of Categorizing Loot Boxes as Gambling
Judge Justice Fleming has ruled that loot boxes could not be categorized as a form of gambling, but he allowed another part of the lawsuit to continue. This part singles out EA for its use of what the plaintiffs describe as “deceptive and unconscionable acts or practices,” and cites Canadian consumer protection law to drive […]
Industry
March 8, 2023
Link Between Loot Boxes and Gambling Evident per New Research
According to Lure Clark, director of UBC’s Center of Gambling Research, there is some evidence to suggest that loot boxes and problem gambling have a link and are somehow related. Previous research in places such as the United Kingdom and Australia has claimed similar findings, although researchers stopped short of categorizing loot boxes themselves as […]
Esports
March 6, 2023
Austrian Court Says FIFA FUT Violates Gambling Laws
FUT packs are collectable digital goods that are obtained through an in-game store and distribute prizes at random. This has been long-contested to be a form of gambling in several countries in Europe, with Belgium and the Netherlands outright banning the provision of FUT packs as part of the core gameplay of the popular FIFA […]
Esports
December 12, 2022
AGSA: Says Loot Boxes Serve as Gateway to Gambling
Australian youths may be exposed to too much gambling, argues the Australian Gaming and Screen Alliance, which is concerned about the lack of adequate measures that safeguard youngsters from the dangers of mechanisms such as loot boxes. According to the organization, gambling addiction is a serious issue that has not been addressed adequately in the […]
Industry
December 5, 2022
Research Suggests Loot Box Users Twice as Likely to Have a Gambling Problem
New research published in Addiction Research & Theory continues to delve into the connection between loot boxes, digital containers, and rewards used by publishers and developers to sonically boost their revenue from products, and gambling practices. The new study examined a sample of more than 1,600 people in Canada and sought to see if there […]
Legal
November 28, 2022
New Bill in Australia Proposes Crackdown on Loot Boxes
Loot boxes have caused controversy in many countries around the world. The virtual rewards, some of which holding real-money value, that are accessed via tokens or keys in exchange for real money were compared to gambling by many lawmakers. This resulted in urges for strict regulation and attempts to restrict video games containing loot boxes […]
Legal
October 18, 2022
Sony Taken to Austrian Court over Loot Boxes
It seems like the loot boxes debate continues to be one of the hot topics of the gaming and video gaming industries. In a recent development, Sony will appear in court for offering what some Austrians consider to be illegal gambling. Sony Is Guilty of Allowing Games that Offer Loot Boxes Österreichische Lotterien and Casinos […]
Legal
September 15, 2022
Australian MPs to Hear Personally from Victims of Gambling Harm
Authorities in Australia will be launching a parliamentary inquiry into the impact of live sports betting and loot boxes to assess the effectiveness of the current gambling regulation regime, reported the Sydney Morning Herald. Scrutinize Regulation, Loot Boxes and Gambling Advertising Led by Labor MP Peta Murphy, who is chair of the standing committee on […]
Industry
August 26, 2022
Loot Boxes Continue to Be in Dutch Ministry’s Crosshairs
Dutch Minister for Legal Protection Franc Weerwind sent Thursday his answers to the parliamentary questions submitted by SP MP Michiel van Nispen in relation to the expressed wish by 19 European consumer organizations among which the Dutch Consumers’ Association, requesting restrictions for loot boxes. Considering Next Course of Action In his letter to parliament, Minister […]
